The book revolves round the role played by Tripura in Indian foreign policy on East Pakistan, later Bangladesh. The ‘Agartala Doctrine’, that emerges from the policy of successive Tripura ...
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The book revolves round the role played by Tripura in Indian foreign policy on East Pakistan, later Bangladesh. The ‘Agartala Doctrine’, that emerges from the policy of successive Tripura governments, stresses on ‘appropiate response’ – friendly approach towards regimes which are friendly and tough response to those which are not. Tripura is also marked out for playing an active role within the parameters of national foreign policy and furthering national interests – unlike some states which oppose national foreign policy initiatives for short-term domestic considerations. Having developed the ‘Agartala doctrine, the book then seeks to lay bare the emerging realities – both challenges and opportunities -- for Indian states in the eastern neighbourhood, even as the Union government pushes its Look East initiative. Twelve contributors, representing a varied mix from India and neighbouring countries with proven expertise on the region, examine both problems within India’s Northeast and focus on Bangladesh, Myanmar and China to explore the dynamics involved in pushing ahead with the Look East initiative. An effort is also made by three contributors to examine the growing role of states and provinces in the national foreign policy of US, China and Russia . The implications of regional groups like BCIM and BIMSTEC are also examined by some contributors. The underlying argument is to advocate the policy of ‘appropriate response’ to the present foreign policy challenges and hold up the Tripura role as a model for other Indian states when they seek to influence national foreign policy.Less

The Agartala Doctrine : A Proactive Northeast in Indian Foreign Policy

Published in print: 2016-02-18

The book revolves round the role played by Tripura in Indian foreign policy on East Pakistan, later Bangladesh. The ‘Agartala Doctrine’, that emerges from the policy of successive Tripura governments, stresses on ‘appropiate response’ – friendly approach towards regimes which are friendly and tough response to those which are not. Tripura is also marked out for playing an active role within the parameters of national foreign policy and furthering national interests – unlike some states which oppose national foreign policy initiatives for short-term domestic considerations. Having developed the ‘Agartala doctrine, the book then seeks to lay bare the emerging realities – both challenges and opportunities -- for Indian states in the eastern neighbourhood, even as the Union government pushes its Look East initiative. Twelve contributors, representing a varied mix from India and neighbouring countries with proven expertise on the region, examine both problems within India’s Northeast and focus on Bangladesh, Myanmar and China to explore the dynamics involved in pushing ahead with the Look East initiative. An effort is also made by three contributors to examine the growing role of states and provinces in the national foreign policy of US, China and Russia . The implications of regional groups like BCIM and BIMSTEC are also examined by some contributors. The underlying argument is to advocate the policy of ‘appropriate response’ to the present foreign policy challenges and hold up the Tripura role as a model for other Indian states when they seek to influence national foreign policy.

This collection of documents on Article 370 of the Constitution of India contains ‘temporary provisions’ with respect to the State of Jammu and Kashmir. This book presents documents on the five-month ...
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This collection of documents on Article 370 of the Constitution of India contains ‘temporary provisions’ with respect to the State of Jammu and Kashmir. This book presents documents on the five-month long negotiations which preceded its enactment on 17 October 1949. It explains the significance of the article, describes how it was eroded, and traces the Constitutional evolution of the State and its relationship with the Union of India thereafter. It covers the period from 1946 to 2010. From Jammu and Kashmir’s accession to India in 1947 to the various negotiations thereafter, including Sheikh Abdullah’s arrest to the framing of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, and the replacement of Sadar–i–Riyasat, this book examines in detail the little-known constitutional history of the state.Less

Article 370 : A Constitutional History of Jammu and Kashmir

A. G. Noorani

Published in print: 2011-07-07

This collection of documents on Article 370 of the Constitution of India contains ‘temporary provisions’ with respect to the State of Jammu and Kashmir. This book presents documents on the five-month long negotiations which preceded its enactment on 17 October 1949. It explains the significance of the article, describes how it was eroded, and traces the Constitutional evolution of the State and its relationship with the Union of India thereafter. It covers the period from 1946 to 2010. From Jammu and Kashmir’s accession to India in 1947 to the various negotiations thereafter, including Sheikh Abdullah’s arrest to the framing of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, and the replacement of Sadar–i–Riyasat, this book examines in detail the little-known constitutional history of the state.

This book presents a scholarly edition of one of the greatest works on Buddhist writings, Ambedkar's The Buddha and His Dhamma. It was published posthumously without citations, bibliographies and ...
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This book presents a scholarly edition of one of the greatest works on Buddhist writings, Ambedkar's The Buddha and His Dhamma. It was published posthumously without citations, bibliographies and other scholarly apparatus. This present edition is scrupulously annotated, with inclusions of references to the Buddhist scripture and other texts which have served as references for Ambedkar. It also includes explanations of those scriptures, comments on Ambedkar's interpretations, and modifications of his sources. The volume deals with Ambedkar's interpretation of the concepts of Buddhism and the possibilities the religion offered for the liberation and upliftment of the Dalits. It offers Ambedkar's reflections and interpretations on the life of Siddharth Gautama, the Buddha, his teachings, and the proliferation of Buddhism in India through series of anecdotes and narratives that details the life of Buddha and the spread of his Dhamma. The book also provides detailed analysis of the basic tenets, canons, and tradition of the Dhamma. It also addressed the unresolved dispute over Ambedkar's interpretation of the Buddha's dhamma by examining the accuracy and correctness of his citations and by providing sources not included in his citations and references. It also considers the modifications made by Ambedkar on his sources of materials.Less

B.R. Ambedkar : The Buddha and his Dhamma

Published in print: 2011-02-03

This book presents a scholarly edition of one of the greatest works on Buddhist writings, Ambedkar's The Buddha and His Dhamma. It was published posthumously without citations, bibliographies and other scholarly apparatus. This present edition is scrupulously annotated, with inclusions of references to the Buddhist scripture and other texts which have served as references for Ambedkar. It also includes explanations of those scriptures, comments on Ambedkar's interpretations, and modifications of his sources. The volume deals with Ambedkar's interpretation of the concepts of Buddhism and the possibilities the religion offered for the liberation and upliftment of the Dalits. It offers Ambedkar's reflections and interpretations on the life of Siddharth Gautama, the Buddha, his teachings, and the proliferation of Buddhism in India through series of anecdotes and narratives that details the life of Buddha and the spread of his Dhamma. The book also provides detailed analysis of the basic tenets, canons, and tradition of the Dhamma. It also addressed the unresolved dispute over Ambedkar's interpretation of the Buddha's dhamma by examining the accuracy and correctness of his citations and by providing sources not included in his citations and references. It also considers the modifications made by Ambedkar on his sources of materials.

In January 2011, Felani Khatun was shot dead while attempting to cross the border from India to Bangladesh. Her body remained hung on the fence as a warning to those who illegally crossed an ...
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In January 2011, Felani Khatun was shot dead while attempting to cross the border from India to Bangladesh. Her body remained hung on the fence as a warning to those who illegally crossed an international border. Migration to India from the current geographical and political entity called Bangladesh is more than a century old and had begun long before the nation states were created in South Asia. Often termed as ‘foreigners’ and ‘infiltrators’, Bangladeshi migrants such as Felani find their way into India for the promise of a better future. Post 1971, there has been a steady movement of people from Bangladesh into India, both as refugees and for economic need, making this migration a complex area of inquiry. This book focuses on the contemporary issue of undocumented Bangladeshi migration to the three Indian states of Assam, West Bengal, and Delhi, and how the migrants are perceived in light of the ongoing discourses on the various nationalisms in India. Each state has a unique history and has taken different measures to respond to Bangladeshi migrants present in the state. Based on extensive fieldwork and insightful interviews with influential members from key political parties, civil society organizations, and Hindu and ethnic nationalist bodies in these states, the book explores the place and role of Bangladeshi migrants in relation to the inherent tension of Indian nationalism.Less

Rizwana Shamshad

Published in print: 2017-11-02

In January 2011, Felani Khatun was shot dead while attempting to cross the border from India to Bangladesh. Her body remained hung on the fence as a warning to those who illegally crossed an international border. Migration to India from the current geographical and political entity called Bangladesh is more than a century old and had begun long before the nation states were created in South Asia. Often termed as ‘foreigners’ and ‘infiltrators’, Bangladeshi migrants such as Felani find their way into India for the promise of a better future. Post 1971, there has been a steady movement of people from Bangladesh into India, both as refugees and for economic need, making this migration a complex area of inquiry. This book focuses on the contemporary issue of undocumented Bangladeshi migration to the three Indian states of Assam, West Bengal, and Delhi, and how the migrants are perceived in light of the ongoing discourses on the various nationalisms in India. Each state has a unique history and has taken different measures to respond to Bangladeshi migrants present in the state. Based on extensive fieldwork and insightful interviews with influential members from key political parties, civil society organizations, and Hindu and ethnic nationalist bodies in these states, the book explores the place and role of Bangladeshi migrants in relation to the inherent tension of Indian nationalism.

How can the government and citizens become more responsive to each other in alleviating poverty and reducing corruption? The book tests several intuitions including whether vulnerable groups demand ...
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How can the government and citizens become more responsive to each other in alleviating poverty and reducing corruption? The book tests several intuitions including whether vulnerable groups demand more from the state if they acquire information about government programs by attending public meetings and participating in social and economic networks such as self- help groups, or by occupying elected positions reserved for them. The book assesses the effectiveness of formal and informal mechanisms—political representation, community social audits, access to information, membership in networks, political competition—that have enabled the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (MGNREGS) to reach its intended beneficiaries in Andhra Pradesh (AP), Tamil Nadu (TN), Madhya Pradesh (MP), and Rajasthan. Analytically, it asks why a mechanism worked or failed in doing two things: a) changing the dominant structure of institutional and social interactions; and b) transforming the ability of poor individuals to take advantage of these changes.Less

Battling Corruption : Has NREGA Reached India's Rural Poor?

Shylashri ShankarRaghav Gaiha

Published in print: 2013-09-01

How can the government and citizens become more responsive to each other in alleviating poverty and reducing corruption? The book tests several intuitions including whether vulnerable groups demand more from the state if they acquire information about government programs by attending public meetings and participating in social and economic networks such as self- help groups, or by occupying elected positions reserved for them. The book assesses the effectiveness of formal and informal mechanisms—political representation, community social audits, access to information, membership in networks, political competition—that have enabled the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (MGNREGS) to reach its intended beneficiaries in Andhra Pradesh (AP), Tamil Nadu (TN), Madhya Pradesh (MP), and Rajasthan. Analytically, it asks why a mechanism worked or failed in doing two things: a) changing the dominant structure of institutional and social interactions; and b) transforming the ability of poor individuals to take advantage of these changes.

India’s current bureaucracy dates back to the nineteenth century, set up by the British in 1854. It is outdated and moribund. Clearly, India needs a better civil service, one that delivers policies ...
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India’s current bureaucracy dates back to the nineteenth century, set up by the British in 1854. It is outdated and moribund. Clearly, India needs a better civil service, one that delivers policies and services to make its people more healthy, more secure, and better equipped to meet the challenges head on. While several countries in the world already have flexible, decentralized, and user-friendly civil services in place, India’s civil service has been stuck with a civil service that is rigid, hierarchical, centralized, and process-driven. This book presents a range of initiatives aimed at helping India build a world-class civil service suitable for the twenty-first century. These initiatives are mainly based on the reform experiences of nations such as Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, but remain appropriate for India. Some of these initiatives are structural, while others are thematic and deal with subjects ranging from performance and accountability to accounting, risk management, results orientation, values, and civil service law. The book is divided into four parts. Part I provides an overview of India’s current civil service. Part II deals with the institutional framework for reforms. Part III examines the organizational framework for the proposed reforms. Part IV describes the legal and ethical framework, and concludes by arguing for a modern, world-class civil service to improve India’s governance.Less

Building a World-Class Civil Service for Twenty-First Century India

S.K. Das

Published in print: 2010-09-30

India’s current bureaucracy dates back to the nineteenth century, set up by the British in 1854. It is outdated and moribund. Clearly, India needs a better civil service, one that delivers policies and services to make its people more healthy, more secure, and better equipped to meet the challenges head on. While several countries in the world already have flexible, decentralized, and user-friendly civil services in place, India’s civil service has been stuck with a civil service that is rigid, hierarchical, centralized, and process-driven. This book presents a range of initiatives aimed at helping India build a world-class civil service suitable for the twenty-first century. These initiatives are mainly based on the reform experiences of nations such as Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, but remain appropriate for India. Some of these initiatives are structural, while others are thematic and deal with subjects ranging from performance and accountability to accounting, risk management, results orientation, values, and civil service law. The book is divided into four parts. Part I provides an overview of India’s current civil service. Part II deals with the institutional framework for reforms. Part III examines the organizational framework for the proposed reforms. Part IV describes the legal and ethical framework, and concludes by arguing for a modern, world-class civil service to improve India’s governance.

This book deals with the instability and violence in Northeast India, and discusses the attempts made by states and societies in the region to respond to them. It also investigates why attaining ...
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This book deals with the instability and violence in Northeast India, and discusses the attempts made by states and societies in the region to respond to them. It also investigates why attaining political order and peace in Northeast India has been a difficult task. Section I of this book examines the historical process of state-making in Manipur and Mizoram. Section II evaluates mobilization of identity in Manipur, followed by a similar exploration in the case of Mizoram. Section III discusses state capability by systematically comparing how agencies of the state in Manipur and Mizoram perform their basic functions. Lastly, it presents some lessons from the author's research in terms of the overall argument, as well as the manner in which the research findings open out to larger issues around state-making, state capability, and collective identity construction and mobilization, and how they can help to better inform policy responses to the crisis in the Northeast.Less

M. Sajjad Hassan

Published in print: 2008-05-29

This book deals with the instability and violence in Northeast India, and discusses the attempts made by states and societies in the region to respond to them. It also investigates why attaining political order and peace in Northeast India has been a difficult task. Section I of this book examines the historical process of state-making in Manipur and Mizoram. Section II evaluates mobilization of identity in Manipur, followed by a similar exploration in the case of Mizoram. Section III discusses state capability by systematically comparing how agencies of the state in Manipur and Mizoram perform their basic functions. Lastly, it presents some lessons from the author's research in terms of the overall argument, as well as the manner in which the research findings open out to larger issues around state-making, state capability, and collective identity construction and mobilization, and how they can help to better inform policy responses to the crisis in the Northeast.

This book explores how movements that are explicitly anti-pluralist in nature still manage to succeed electorally within a democratic framework which they themselves reject. The book studies the ...
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This book explores how movements that are explicitly anti-pluralist in nature still manage to succeed electorally within a democratic framework which they themselves reject. The book studies the ideologies and practices of the successful but minor affiliate of the Hindu nationalist movement: the Shiv Sena, a party which has dominated the political scene in Maharashtra—especially in its capital city Mumbai—for several years, and has been characterized by its culture of direct—often violent—action, its militant images, and its autocratic leader, Bal Thackeray. The author explores the internal dynamics of the party, its local mode of operation, and its strategies of mobilization within a democratic set up. It also examines the movement’s dilemma between norm-breaking and norm-setting as well as its role within the Hindu nationalist agenda of which it has become the most vociferous propagator. While studying the movement’s need for creating opportunities for action, the role of militant enemy images, and the integration of diverse interests and motivations in the politics of struggle, the author also analyzes the deliberate and repeated creation of space for such anti-pluralist violent movements within democratic environments.Less

The Charisma of Direct Action : Power, Politics, and the Shiv Sena

Julia M. Eckert

Published in print: 2003-03-27

This book explores how movements that are explicitly anti-pluralist in nature still manage to succeed electorally within a democratic framework which they themselves reject. The book studies the ideologies and practices of the successful but minor affiliate of the Hindu nationalist movement: the Shiv Sena, a party which has dominated the political scene in Maharashtra—especially in its capital city Mumbai—for several years, and has been characterized by its culture of direct—often violent—action, its militant images, and its autocratic leader, Bal Thackeray. The author explores the internal dynamics of the party, its local mode of operation, and its strategies of mobilization within a democratic set up. It also examines the movement’s dilemma between norm-breaking and norm-setting as well as its role within the Hindu nationalist agenda of which it has become the most vociferous propagator. While studying the movement’s need for creating opportunities for action, the role of militant enemy images, and the integration of diverse interests and motivations in the politics of struggle, the author also analyzes the deliberate and repeated creation of space for such anti-pluralist violent movements within democratic environments.

India has the largest number of child labourers in the world, and has been the subject of intense media and political campaigns in the North aimed at addressing the abuse of children’s rights. This ...
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India has the largest number of child labourers in the world, and has been the subject of intense media and political campaigns in the North aimed at addressing the abuse of children’s rights. This book explores children’s rights as a site of power and reveals how the rights discourse has been used by international actors, national elites, and local NGOs in the child labour debate in India. While discussing the children’s rights in the contemporary world, the author analyses human rights and power along with insights from postcolonial theorists. He provides empirical accounts of how three Indian NGOs—Bonded Labour Liberation Front, Butterflies, and South Asian Coalition on Child Servitude—are using the discourse of children’s rights to challenge child labour practices. Combining global and local perspectives to arrive at a comprehensive picture, the book locates the struggle for child rights on two fronts: critiquing neo-liberal globalization and challenging rights violations in India.Less

Child Labour in India : Globalization, Power, and the Politics of International Children's Rights

Gurchathen S. Sanghera

Published in print: 2016-08-25

India has the largest number of child labourers in the world, and has been the subject of intense media and political campaigns in the North aimed at addressing the abuse of children’s rights. This book explores children’s rights as a site of power and reveals how the rights discourse has been used by international actors, national elites, and local NGOs in the child labour debate in India. While discussing the children’s rights in the contemporary world, the author analyses human rights and power along with insights from postcolonial theorists. He provides empirical accounts of how three Indian NGOs—Bonded Labour Liberation Front, Butterflies, and South Asian Coalition on Child Servitude—are using the discourse of children’s rights to challenge child labour practices. Combining global and local perspectives to arrive at a comprehensive picture, the book locates the struggle for child rights on two fronts: critiquing neo-liberal globalization and challenging rights violations in India.

The political history of modern India is intimately intertwined with the history of the Indian National Congress. The Congress is unique not only for its longevity but also for its role in the ...
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The political history of modern India is intimately intertwined with the history of the Indian National Congress. The Congress is unique not only for its longevity but also for its role in the building of the Indian nation. This book seeks to analyse important aspects of political change at a time when India is at once a rising power with an expanding middle class and a poor, unequal, and misgoverned country through the story of the shifts in the politics and strategy of the Congress Party. It investigates the structure and direction of change within the party and its governance agenda, essentially in its policy and strategy and in its organization and leadership after Indira Gandhi. It is a thematic account of political processes and the discursive and policy practices that shaped the thinking and approach of the Congress, and provides an interpretation of the politics of change in India and how this shaped the development of the Congress, especially under the United Progressive Alliance. It considers economic liberalization, the Ayodhya issue and the re-emergence of the Congress as a ruling party in 2004. This volume also analyzes how the dualist structure in the Congress leadership influenced the perception of the people about the party.Less

Congress after Indira : Policy, Power, Political Change (1984-2009)

Zoya Hasan

Published in print: 2012-10-18

The political history of modern India is intimately intertwined with the history of the Indian National Congress. The Congress is unique not only for its longevity but also for its role in the building of the Indian nation. This book seeks to analyse important aspects of political change at a time when India is at once a rising power with an expanding middle class and a poor, unequal, and misgoverned country through the story of the shifts in the politics and strategy of the Congress Party. It investigates the structure and direction of change within the party and its governance agenda, essentially in its policy and strategy and in its organization and leadership after Indira Gandhi. It is a thematic account of political processes and the discursive and policy practices that shaped the thinking and approach of the Congress, and provides an interpretation of the politics of change in India and how this shaped the development of the Congress, especially under the United Progressive Alliance. It considers economic liberalization, the Ayodhya issue and the re-emergence of the Congress as a ruling party in 2004. This volume also analyzes how the dualist structure in the Congress leadership influenced the perception of the people about the party.

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